Brake lever extension

Abstract

An extension attachment for a bicycle brake lever. There is an eyebolt clamp which mounts the attachment to the end of the brake lever, and a lever member which extends generally perpendicularly from this so as to be parallel to a handlebar extension. This enables the rider to operate the brake lever without having to remove his hand from the extension bar.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An extension attachment for a bicycle brake lever, said brake lever extending generally parallel and adjacent to a grip portion of a primary handlebar member, and said primary handlebar member having a secondary handlebar member mounted thereto so as to extend at an angle to said grip portion, said extension attachment comprising: a lever member having a relatively straight operating portion which extends generally along a single axis and which is configured to be gripped by the fingers of a rider's hand; and means for mounting said lever member to an outer end of said brake lever so that said axis of said operating portion extends transversely across said outer end of said lever, and so that said operating portion of said lever member extends generally perpendicularly from said end of said brake lever and generally parallel to said secondary handlebar member, so as to permit said fingers of said hand to reach said operating portion of lever member to actuate said brake lever without said hand having to release a grip on said secondary handlebar member.   
     
     
       2. The extension attachment of claim 1, wherein said means for mounting said lever member to said brake lever comprises a clamp member configured to releasably engage an outwardly bent tang portion on said outer end of said brake lever. 
     
     
       3. The extension attachment of claim 2, wherein said clamp member comprises: a first jaw portion configured to engage an inner surface of said tang portion of said lever;   a second jaw portion configured to engage an outer surface of said tang portion; and   means for selectively forcing said first and second jaw portions into frictional engagement with said surfaces of said tang portion.   
     
     
       4. The extension attachment of claim 3, wherein said first jaw portion comprises: an eyebolt having a ring portion at a first end for receiving said tang portion of said brake lever; and   a threaded shaft extending outwardly from said ring portion through said lever member of said attachment.   
     
     
       5. The extension attachment of claim 4, wherein said second jaw portion comprises a barrel member positioned about said shaft of said eyebolt intermediate said ring portion and said lever member, said barrel member having an inner surface configured to engage an outer surface of said tang portion of said brake lever. 
     
     
       6. The extension attachment of claim 5, wherein said means for forcing said jaw portions into engagement with said brake lever comprises a nut member in threaded engagement with an outer end of said shaft of said eyebolt, so that said engagement surface of said barrel member is forced toward said engagement surface of said ring portion by selective tightening of said nut member against an outer side of said lever member. 
     
     
       7. The extension attachment of claim 6, wherein said central portion of said lever member through which said shaft of said eyebolt passes comprises a sleeve portion of said lever member, said sleeve portion being selectively rotatable about said shaft so as to permit adjustment of said operating portion of sad lever member to a plurality of angular positions such that said operating portion remains parallel to said secondary handlebar member as said secondary handlebar member is similarly adjusted to a plurality of angular positions on said primary handlebar member. 
     
     
       8. The extension attachment of claim 7, wherein said lever member is configured so that said operating portion thereof is lockable in a selected sad angular position in response to selective tightening of said nut member. 
     
     
       9. The extension attachment of claim 1, wherein said means for mounting said attachment to said brake lever comprises a bolt member configured to pass through a bore formed in an outwardly angled tang portion on said end of said lever. 
     
     
       10. An extension attachment for a bicycle brake lever, said brake lever extending generally parallel and adjacent to a grip portion of a primary handlebar member, and said primary handlebar member having a secondary handlebar member mounted thereto so as to extend at an angle to said grip portion, said extension attachment comprising: a lever member configured to be gripped by the fingers of a rider's hand; and   means for mounting said lever member to an outer end of said brake lever so that said lever member extends at an angle to said brake lever ad generally parallel to said secondary handlebar member, so as to permit said fingers of said hand to reach sad lever member to actuate said brake lever without said hand having to release a grip on said secondary handlebar member;   said means for mounting said lever member to said brake lever comprising a clamp member configured to releasably engage an outwardly bent tang portion on said outer end of said brake lever and having: a first jaw portion configured to engage an inner surface of said tang portion of said lever;   a second jaw portion configured to engage an outer surface of said tang portion; and   means for selectively forcing said first and second jaw portions into frictional engagement with said surface of sad tang portion.     
     
     
       11. The extension attachment of claim 10, wherein said first jaw portion comprises: an eyebolt having a ring portion at a first end for receiving said tang portion of said brake lever; and   a threaded shaft extending outwardly from said ring portion through said lever member of said attachment.   
     
     
       12. The extension attachment of claim 11, wherein said second jaw portion comprises a barrel member positioned about said shaft of said eyebolt intermediate said ring portion and said lever member, said barrel member having an inner surface configured to engage an outer surface of said tang portion of said brake lever. 
     
     
       13. The extension attachment of claim 12, wherein said means for forcing said jaw portions into engagement with said brake lever comprises a nut member in threaded engagement with an outer end of said shaft of said eyebolt, so that said engagement surface of said barrel member is forced toward said engagement surface of said ring portion by selective tightening of said nut member against an outer side of said lever member. 
     
     
       14. The extension attachment of claim 13, wherein said central portion of said lever member through which said shaft of said eyebolt passes comprises a sleeve portion of said lever member, said sleeve portion being selectively rotatable about said shaft so as to permit adjustment of said lever member to a plurality of angular positions such that said lever member remains parallel to said secondary handlebar member as said secondary handlebar member is similarly adjusted to a plurality of angular positions on said primary handlebar member. 
     
     
       15. The extension attachment of claim 14, wherein said lever member is configured so that said lever member is lockable in a selected said angular position in response to selective tightening of said nut member. 
     
     
       16. An extension attachment for a bicycle brake lever, said brake lever extending generally parallel and adjacent to a grip portion of a primary handlebar member, and said primary handlebar member having a secondary handlebar member mounted thereto so as to extended at an angle to said grip portion, said extension attachment comprising: a lever member configured to be gripped by the fingers of a rider's hand; and   means for mounting said lever member to an outer end of said brake lever so that said lever member extends at an angle to said brake lever and generally parallel to said secondary handlebar member, so as to permit said fingers of said hand to reach said lever member to actuate said brake lever without said hand having to release a grip on said secondary handlebar member;   said means for mounting said attachment to said brake lever comprising a bolt member configured to pass through a bore formed in an outwardly angled tang portion on said end of said lever.